Percentile-Floor Link Qualification for Faster Mesh Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load control systems face challenges in efficiently forming mesh networks due to message collisions during network formation, leading to delayed installation and operation, especially as the scale of the network increases.
Innovation Solution
A method for network formation in load control systems that involves devices measuring background communication quality metrics, setting link quality thresholds based on percentiles, and optimizing router device locations to minimize collisions and enhance network connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices send and receive multiple messages during network attachment, then network connectivity is established, but message collisions increase and network formation is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurements of background communication quality metrics before network attachment. Devices use these pre-measured metrics to set link quality thresholds and determine attachment parameters in advance, reducing the need for multiple retry messages during actual attachment and thereby reducing message collisions and formation time
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where devices measure communication quality metrics during network formation and use this feedback to dynamically adjust link quality thresholds and attachment parameters. This feedback loop enables the system to optimize message transmission timing and reduce collisions based on actual network conditions
2Reliability
If link quality threshold is set high, then network reliability is improved, but fewer devices can attach to the network
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts link quality thresholds based on measured background communication quality metrics rather than using fixed thresholds. The thresholds are set at specific percentiles (e.g., 95th percentile) of the measured metric distribution, allowing the system to adapt to varying network conditions and maintain both high reliability and fast formation by optimizing the balance between threshold strictness and attachment success rate
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of link quality threshold from a fixed value to a dynamically calculated value based on percentile rankings of measured communication quality metrics. This parameter transformation allows the threshold to automatically adapt to network conditions, ensuring high reliability while maintaining productive network formation speeds
3Quantity of substance
If network scale increases, then system capability is improved, but message collisions increase and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each device autonomously measures background communication quality metrics and calculates its own link quality threshold based on percentile rankings. Devices independently determine their attachment parameters without requiring centralized configuration or manual intervention, enabling the system to scale to large numbers of devices while keeping installation simple and automated
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the network formation process into independent stages where each device performs self-contained operations: measuring background metrics, calculating percentile-based thresholds, and executing attachment. This segmentation allows devices to operate independently and simultaneously, reducing overall installation complexity even as network scale increases
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices of a control system may communicate with each other via a network. The control devices may be configured to form the network by joining the network and each attempt to attach to another device on the network. Attachment may be performed using one or more link quality thresholds. For example, the control device may measure background values and the link quality threshold may represent an Nth percentile value of the recorded background values measured at the control device. During a router optimization mode, the control devices may measure and store a communication quality metrics that may be used to assign the role of router devices and/or the role of leader device to control devices on the network.